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Innovation Awards for Mechanistic Studies to Optimize Mind and Body Interventions in NCCIH High Priority Research Topics (R61/R33, R33)

Understanding the mechanisms by which complementary or integrative Mind and Body Interventions exert their clinical effects is critical for the development of optimized interventions that target specific conditions and disorders. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) seeks applications for the following awards:

Phased Innovation Award for Mechanistic Studies to Optimize Mind and Body Interventions in NCCIH High Priority Research Topics (R61/R33)

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to establish a phased research approach to investigate and optimize the mechanisms underlying Mind and Body Interventions. This FOA will support two-phased research applications. The first phase, funded by the R61 mechanism, will provide funding for up to two years to investigate the biological, neurological, physiological, and/or mechanisms or behavioral processes underlying a Mind and Body Intervention (e.g., meditation, spinal manipulation, massage, yoga, tai chi, hypnosis, or acupuncture). The second phase, funded under the R33 mechanism, will provide up to three years of support to: (1) optimize the mechanisms or processes identified in the R61 phase through further modifications to the intervention, (2) study the integration of approaches that may affect the same underlying mechanisms or processes, or (3) further study the relationship between the intervention and the underlying mechanism of action with a relevant target population. This second R33 phase should also aim to provide preliminary evidence that the mechanisms or processes modulated by the interventions are associated with functional outcomes or clinical benefits for specific conditions or disorders. Subject to the availability of funds, transition from the R61 to the R33 phase of the award will be administratively reviewed and will be determined by successful completion of “Go/No-Go Criteria” that need to be clearly specified in the R61 phase application. This FOA is not appropriate for clinical trials with the primary objectives to determine efficacy or effectiveness of clinical outcomes.

Amount: Application budgets are not limited, but it is strongly recommended that applicants not request a budget of more than $300,000 in direct costs per year for the R61 phase and $500,000 in direct costs per year for the R33 phase

Innovation Award for Mechanistic Studies to Optimize Mind and Body Interventions in NCCIH High Priority Research Topics (R33)

Building on prior mechanistic research, the purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to encourage additional research to optimize the biological, neurological, physiological mechanisms or behavioral processes underlying Mind and Body Interventions. Applications submitted under this FOA, using the R33 funding mechanism, can receive up to three years of support to: (1) optimize previously identified mechanisms or processes underlying a Mind and Body Intervention through further modifications to the interventions, (2) study the integration of approaches that may affect the same underlying mechanisms or processes, or (3) further study the relationship between the intervention and the underlying mechanism of action with a relevant target population. Applicants should also aim to provide preliminary evidence that the mechanisms or processes modulated by the intervention are associated with functional outcome or clinical benefit for specific conditions or disorders. This FOA is not appropriate for clinical trials with the primary objectives to determine efficacy or effectiveness.

Amount: Application budgets are not limited, but it is strongly recommended that applicants not request a budget of more than $500,000 in direct costs per year for the R33 application